Last I Checked April Fool’s Day Was In April

This blog belongs in the WTF catagory for sure… I just learned today of a super group of sorts forming featuring members of bands you would never suspect.

What band members do I speak of? How about former Smashing Pumpkin guitarist James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, singer/Hanson brother Taylor, and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger. Supergroup indeed. The band is called Tinted Windows and they should be releasing an album on April 21st, 2009.

WTF: Members of Smashing Pumpkins, Hanson, Cheap Trick, and Fountains of Wayne Form Band

According to Billboard.com, there’s a new band that exists on earth called Tinted Windows featuring former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, handsome Hanson brother Taylor, and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger.

I am looking at my calendar right now. It is not April 1.

A couple things while my mind is still barely stuck together: You put together one of the most random something-groups ever and the best name you can come up with is Tinted Windows?! Is that a play on the secretive nature of the group? Do they all wear Men in Black shades on stage? Is this a Blues Brothers revival act? But, really, if you’re going to go “Tinted” why not go all the way, like Blacked Out. Or Smashed Windows. Well, maybe not “Smashed.” Hm. At least a moniker with some confidence, some commitment. As of now, this band is like the transition lenses of something-groups.

The union sort of makes sense considering Iha and Schlesinger co-own a studio and Taylor Hanson seems like an all-around good guy…but still.

Apparently, the band have already recorded their debut album in New York and are set to make their big time live splash at Billboard’s SXSW showcase March 20 in Austin.

If this is Billboard’s idea of a gag, I have to hand it to them– it could be an incredible gag.

UPDATE: It’s not a gag. Tinted Windows is very real, their publicist assures us. And their album is coming out April 21.

WTF indeed… I will be researching this in the upcomming weeks and hope to find out a little more about this including WHY.